Don't think I Will Buy Shipped Eggs Again

[greenriver]

For my first mail order experience, I got one chick from 48 egggs shipped by USPS.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Quote:
Is that real popcorn in their?

 

[greenriver]

Yep, real popcorn

 

[chickened]

Did any hatch?

 

[rancher hicks]

I'd use a control group. My own eggs which I know are good against shipped eggs. If my eggs hatch then I'd know the shipped eggs aren't good. Try to buy eggs from folks as close to you as possible.

Now I do have an article on shipping that I offer if you send me your e-mail address. It's from PP magazine and has helped me.

Some important things just off the top of my head that I did wrong in the beginning.

No high traffic areas. No the bedroom is not safe if you go in and out alot.

Use a room that maintains a 70-80* temp. Put in a heater if need be. Do not trust the thermostat , they lie. I have a thermometer on the wall in my office. Keep the door closed.

The temp can go up to 101.5 or even 102.0 and may not present a problem. Temps will fluctuate. Lord have mercy a hen doesn't have a thermometer and gets off her eggs at least once a day. Don't panic.

Do not count on day 21. I've had chicks hatch early and some late, taking 4 or 5 days to complete. I have snatched chicks from the incubator and not had a shrink wrap situation. I use the Genesis 1588. Scientifically the shrink wrap idea doesn't make sense , since a hen is up and off and an incubator has air holes in the bottom. At least mine does.

IMO, if your using a store bought styrofoam incubator raise the temp to 100.0* or even 101.0* But as always follow the directions.

I wish you the best,

Rancher

 

[groundpecker]

I have had up to 80% hatch rate and down to 0% on shipped eggs. There are many factors to consider when buying hatching eggs.

Here are a few questions to ask the seller when considering a high price purchase:

Roo to hen ratio (more than 1 roo to 4 hens is too much. best bet is 1-1 or 1-2)
how old are the birds (too young may not be fertile yet and too old may not be as fertile)
what are they fed ( cheap food = not enough nutrients to make egg shell strong and effects other breeding factors.)
how clean are the coups/runs ( stay away from excessive dirty sellers)
Have they been stressed recently ( may effect fertility)
are the eggs washed (washed eggs may remove protective coating and introduce bacteria)
how are they stored before shipping (too high or too low temps are not good)
how are they packaged for shipping ( cheap packaging leads to a bad hatch)
where did you get your breeders from ( If they don't know or won't say, do not buy)
can you post more pictures of the birds/coups/runs? (a picture can speak a thousand words about a seller)
do you keep records of your flock ( good record keeping indicates a breeder that cares)
do you show your birds and how well have they done?
Are you under current NPIP inspection?

Stay away from sellers that refuse to answer questions or give some excuse of not knowing the answer. Any good breeder knows all of the questions above.
Yes you may pay a little more for eggs from a great breeder, but hatch rate is much better from someone who cares more about the birds than money.

 

[Arielle]

Very good points.

I carefully selected breeders to buy from. Look for happy customers. Especially customers that continue to rave long after the eggs hatch.

My first eggs purchased from another breeder were stored pointed end up and at room temp in the Summer. Only 3/11 hatched. No surprise there. But I was still disappointed as I had spent 2 hours driving, with my kids!

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
When I first started I knew only Ideal. The feed store I was familiar with gave me the name and said they could not order an assortment of breeds. However Ideal will ship less than 25 and I did get my assortment. 3 each of 7 different breeds and 4 of the Frizzles. The Frizzles were straight run so I had to get roosters. All the others were pullets.

Cute little buggers the frizzles. We has one we called Cowboy Curtis, cuz the frizzles were bantams and he looked like he was riding a horse when "dancing" with the larger standard hens. The hens would run with him on their backs. Very funny to see.

I don't have Buckeyes but rarely do I charge more than $5 a chick. I recently just gave away 5 chicks, cuz I had some coming and didn't want to deal with them too. I've hatched BR's with a broody and sold those for a buck each. I had bought eggs at an auction but won't be doing that anymore. I don't want to take the risk. Some of the eggs were really dirty. Two of which I tossed.

Anyhow some hatcheries will ship less than 25. Though mine were $81 dollars. DW was surprised but she didn't kill me. Lord if she knew what I just paid she'd really kick my can.

 

[Arielle]

I won't tell if you don't tell.

I'm hoping to get eggsat 30$ per doz shipped instead of the $200 for the buckeye chicks. For now I have settled for FBCM eggs to try my hand at. Didn't go for SQ but rather hatching rate! DH hasn't looked in incubator, he thinks I'm messing with the eggs from my own hens. Which I am!

 

[chickened]

I just put almost 4 dozen each of BR and BO in the hatcher with about 5 duds from each that I took out and they were non shipped eggs I bought locally. The only better hatch rate I get is from my own. You want consistently good hatch rates? spend more than $100.00 on an incubator more like about $350.00 and up.